SERVE in search of sparkles

The organization is hosting a Bling Fling fundraiser in December to help support senior programming, and is asking Callaway County area residents to dig into their jewelry boxes for the cause. Proceeds will help fund services provided by Team RSVP, such as the senior home repair program and transportation for senior volunteers.

Team RSVP Director Mary Gordon said SERVE is looking for donations of old, unwanted jewelry, scarves and purses. All donations will be tax deductible.

“We’ve got to have a lot of community support so we can get the donated items for the sale,” Gordon said. “When you’re cleaning out your closets, when you’re cleaning out your jewelry, think of us.

“We will take any and all types of jewlery whether it’s costume or fine jewelry; whether it is broken or a single earring. We’re looking for anything and everyting — we’re excited about it.”

She said all donations will be cleaned and, if necessary, either repaired or broken up to be sold for beading and craft supplies.

“Our goal is that everything will be in extremely good shape (for the sale),” Gordon said. “Brian Fuller is donating his time to help us.”

Gordon said she plans for the Bling Fling to become an annual event held on the first Saturday of December — the same day as the Fulton Jaycees Christmas Parade.

“We’ll open in the morning and everything will be on sale until 1,” she said, noting that from 1-2 p.m. during the parade, volunteers will sort through what is left to pull out any pieces that will not be priced down. “Then after the parade, we’ll have everything half-price from 2-4.”

Gordon said the decision to host a large-scale annual fundraiser was prompted by budget cuts in recent years.

“I’ve had over $16,000 cut from my budget,” she said. “I’m trying to come up with ways to continue to serve my volunteers and the community. This is something we can do, and it’s fun, and we thought this was a great way to do that.”

Currently, donations can be brought in to the SERVE office at 4901 County Road 304 in Fulton. Within the next two weeks, Gordon said she will have drop boxes and tax donation letters at the Clothes Cupboard, 501 Nichols St., Fulton; YMCA of Callaway County, 1715 Wood St., Fulton; and Calena’s Fashions, 275 Karen Drive, Holts Summit.

Gordon said she and her team plan to work to make sure the Bling Fling “is definitely not a garage sale.”

“We’re hoping to make it very glitzy, very nice,” Gordon said. “It really will be very fun.”